A New Year! A Time to wait on God?

One of the most difficult things to do at times is "nothing". We are people of action and if things do not happen, we make them happen. Jacob, the son of Isaac, was like that. He had been promised a blessing by the Lord when he was born but got impatient as a young man and took matters into his own hands and tricked his older brother and his father into giving him the blessing. Because of this he had to run away from home and suffered a lifetime of anxiety over the matter. His life would have been so different if he had learned early on to wait upon the Lord.

In Genesis 46:1-4 we see Jacob, as an old man having learned this lesson, appeal to God in making an important decision concerning a long trip to Egypt to see his long lost son Joseph.

So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here I am." He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes.

Genesis 46:1-4

When he was young, God had not allowed Jacob to leave Canaan but he ran away for fear of his brother. Now that he was older and wiser, Jacob waited on the Lord to tell him what he should do concerning this departure. He had not seen his son in over ten years, thinking him dead and now his son was calling to him to come, but Jacob waited on the Lord before he left the land. 

Note that God rewards Jacob for his patience and faith by blessing his trip and revealing to him the future of his family. Jacob could now go in peace and security knowing that God was with him. 

As we see in the elder Jacob's experience, waiting on the Lord is a virtue that takes a lifetime of trying to acquire. But once you learn there are many benefits:

1. Avoid Costly Mistakes.

God's way, God's plan, God's purpose for your life is always the best and most profitable for you. When we go our own way, or neglect to consult or wait for the Lord to lead us, we end up making poor choices or we do not fulfill our true potential in Christ.

2. Develop a godly character.

Waiting on the Lord is difficult; it requires faith, perseverance, and self-control just to wait! Sometimes it takes greater strength and courage to do nothing and stay where you are, in waiting on the Lord than just jumping ahead impatiently.

3. Go with God’s approval.

We need to ask God to tell us what He wants first, then ask for His blessing in meeting our needs, not our wants.

We need to pray first, then plan not make our plan then pray!!!!!!!

• If we pray first then God will give us the plan.
• If we pray first, then God will help us prioritize our lives.
• If we pray first, then God will lead us away from temptation; in other words, help us to avoid plans and traps that will cause us to fail.

If we pray before planning then the plan will be God`s plan and He will provide for it; He will receive the glory for it; we will become fruitful because of it; and others will be blessed by it. 

Of course, when it comes to confessing Christ, repenting of your sins and being baptized there should be no waiting or hesitation!

How can we help? Please let us know. 

Special thanks to Bibletalk.tv